Automatic control for aeroplanes



Nov. 11, 1930. R. PEDRIZZI AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR AEROPLANES Filed July 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I I l I l l l l l I l l l l I l l l I l IIIHNHH iik INVENTOR. H1 'cca fdo /dzljz' A TTORNE Y Nov. ll, 1930. R. PEDRIZZI 1,781,633

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR AEROPLANES Filed July 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORN E Y.

Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES RICCARDO FEDRIZZI, OF WESTON, PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR AEROPLANES Application led July 23,

This Vinvention relates to an automatic control for aeroplanes, the general object of the invention being to provide weighted members in the fuselage, one of which is connected to the ailerons and the other to the elevators or horizontal rudders, whereby the Weighted members Will automatically adjust the ailerons and the elevators if the craft should tilt to one side or the other or tilt in a longitudinal plane, and thus bring the craft back to an even keel.

Another object-of the invention is to provide means whereby the weights for the weighted members can be increased or decreased, as desired.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference Will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of an aeroplane constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the weighted members.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the other member.

As shown in these views, I provide a weighted member A in the front part of the fuselage and a weighted member B in the rear part thereof. The drawingsshow each member as composed of a pair of uprights 1, with a box-like container 2 for holding weights, placed between the lower portions of the uprights and fastened thereto and with the upper portions of the uprights suspended on a rod 3 so that the weighted member has swinging movement on the rod. Thus it will be seen that this arrangement forms a weighted pendulum. It is to be understood, how.- ever, that any number of the uprights l can 50 be used,veither one, two or more, and that 1929. Serial No. 380,371.

the weight container may be of any shape. For instance, it may be shaped as a chair so thatthe weight of the occupant will cause the device to act as a pendulum.

Cables 4 have their inner ends connected with the horizontal arms l at the upper ends of the uprights l of the front device A and said cables pass upwardly over pulleys 5 and then outwardly over pulleys 5 carried by the wing of the plane, with the outer ends of the cables attached to the under side of the ailerons C of the plane. The upper portions of these ailerons are connected together hy a cable 6 guided by pulleys.

Arcable 7 connects each upri ht 1 of the device B with the upper part o each elevator D of the craft, each cable being connected with the upright below its pivotal point and a cable 8 connects lthe upper end of each upright 1 of the device B with the under side of each elevator D.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the member Av will automatically operate the ailerons and the member B will automatically operate the elevators. For instance, if the aeroplane dips to the right, lowering the right aileron and raising the left, the member A will gradually pull on one side of the cables 4 and release the other cable, thereby causing the ailerons to bring the plane back to an even keel and the same action will take place if the aeroplane dips to the left. If the aeroplane should dip forwardly or rearwardly, the device B will act on the elevators to bring the craft back to an even keel.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

Tt is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:-

In an aeroplane embodying the usual ailerons and elevators, a pendulum including a weight suspending a frame embodying side members suspended for swinging movement about an axis extendingparallel to the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane and in ad-` vance rof the ailerons, arms extending from said side members, in relatively opposite directions, cables connected with the arms and leading to and connected with the under sides of respective ones of the ailerons, a cable extending between and connected at its ends to the upper sides of the ailerons, a second pendulum including a weight-supporting frame embodying side members suspended, between their upper and lower ends, for swinging movement about an aXis, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane, and in advance of the elevators, cables connected to the said frame members above their axis and leading to and connected with the respective elevators at the underside thereof, and other cables connected with the frame members below their axis and leading `to and connected with the respective elevators at their upper sides.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

' RICCARDO FEDRIZZI.

HOI, 

